Adhesive and sealant dispenser with grinding means

ABSTRACT

A MIXING AND DISPENSING UNIT FOR ACCOMMODATING SEVERAL MATERIALS, WHEREIN AT LEAST ONE OF THE MATERIALS IS IN AN ISOLATED STATE, INCLUDING A CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER CARRYING A PLUNGER THEREIN, A HANDLE-ACTUATED MIXING HEAD ADJACENT ONE END OF THE CONTAINER AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE MATERIALS FROM THE CONTAINER AND TO MIX THE MATERIALS, AND A NOZZLE-TYPE DISPENSING CAP COVERING THE MIXING HEAD. THE ONE END OF THE CONTAINER HAS PORTS COOPERABLE WITH PORTS IN A DISC-TYPE DISPENSER GATE ON THE PLUNGER FOR METERING AND FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF THE MATERIALS TO THE MIXING HEAD. THE MIXING HEAD AND THE DISPENSING CAP ARE CONE-SHAPED AND INCLUDE ROUGHENED SURFACES WHICH WORK TOGETHER TO RUPTURE THE ISOLATED-STATE MATERIAL AND TO MIX THE MATERIALS PRIOR TO DISPENSING THE MIXTURE FROM THE UNIT.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Hugh W. Campbell Xenia, Ohio [21]Appl. No. 791,236 [22] Filed Jan. 15,1969 [45] Patented June 28, 1971[73] Assignee The National Cash Register Company Dayton, Ohio [54]ADHESIVE AND SEALANT DISPENSER WITII GRINDING MEANS 17 Claims, 8 DrawingFigs.

521 0.5. CI 241/62, 222/145, 222/190, 222/260, 241/2, 241/168, 241/247[51] Int.Cl ..B02c 19/12, GOlf 13/00 [50] Field 01 Search 241/62, 168,199,245-7,260,2, 101 (.6),101 (.7) (Dispenser W/ disintegrators Digest);222/ l 45, 260, 190,245 (Cursory) [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 207L615 2/1937 Creveling 222/260 2,763,440 9/1956 Johnson241/168X 3,164,303 H1965 Trautmann 222/190 3.325.065 6/1967 Allen222/245 Primary Examiner- Donald G. Kelly Attorneys- Louis A. Kline,Wilbert Hawk, Jr. and George J.

Muckenthaler ABSTRACT: A mixing and dispensing unit for accommodatingseveral materials, wherein at least one of the materials is in anisolated state, including a cylindrical container carrying a plungertherein, a handle-actuated mixing head adjacent one end of the containerand adapted to receive materials from the container and to mix thematerials, and a nozzle-type dispensing cap covering the mixing head.The one end of the container has ports cooperable with ports in adisc-type dispenser gate on the plunger for metering and for controllingthe flow of the materials to the mixing head. The mixing head and thedispensing cap are cone-shaped and include roughened surfaces which worktogether to rupture theisolated-state material and to mix the materialsprior to dispensing the mixture from the unit.

PATENTEU JUH28 19?: 35 7,59

sum 1 or 3 INVENTOR HUGH W CAMPBE L HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUN28|97|3587.982

SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTOR HUGH W. CAMPBELL V2343? r M HIS ATTORNEYSPATENIEnJuuzslsn 3587882 sum 3 0F 3 FIG. 7

INVENTOR HUGH W. CAMPBELL HIS ATTORNEYS ADHESIVE AND SEALANT DISPENSERWITH GRINDING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the art of adhesiveand sealant systems that consist primarily of a base material and acatalyst compound, twopart mixtures of this type have been on the marketand have been used in the industry for a number of years, In the case ofadhesives, there are known epoxy systems that are produced bycross-linking certain materials or by curing one or more materials withthe aid of an activator or a catalyst; however, these systems have notenjoyed a popular place in the market because of the difficulty incontrolling the exact quantities to be mixed and also the difficulty inmixing the base material and the catalyst. For example, an epoxy systemthat is cured with a diamine-type'catalyst may be mixed in a ratio of l2parts base material to one'part catalyst, so it is seen that such asystem is not practical for ordinary household use because of theinability or, at least, the difficulty encountered in weighing andmeasuring the exact quantities of the base material and the catalystcompound.

A number of systems also introduced on the market utilize premixed orprepackaged volume ratios and hence do not require weight or volumefiguring or measurement on the part of the user. This type of packagingis deemedsatisfactory from the mixing point of view, but it oftenresults in considerable waste, because the unused parts of the mixedsystems cure into an unusable mass. Likewise, several approaches tostoichiometric mixing of minute quantities of the ingredients have beendeveloped by various adhesive manufacturers.

In the case of sealants, there are the known cartridge types thatcomprise a mixture or a solution of the two-part systems; however, thesecartridges are basically manufactured for mixing a given quantity of theingredients and also are not rechargeable or reusable. Additionally, thecartridges are generally adapted for use only in a total liquid orflowable system.

A review of the prior-art shows devices such as a storage and mixingcartridge having separate forward and rear compartments for theingredients provided by a partition, the forward compartment containingthe catalyst or accelerator, and the rear compartment containing thebase material, such as a resin. A dome-shaped apertured plunger ordasher element is slidably moved to mix the materials, and the partitionand the plunger constitute a seal between the compartments in oneposition of the parts, all as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,l64,303, issuedJan. 5, 1965, on the application of Herbert L. Trautmann. Anotherexample of the prior art is that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,348,546,issued Oct. 24, l967, on the application of Ralph R. Roberts and BorisSchwartz, where an intermixing syringe includes a housing with a plungerslidable therein, the plunger having a piston portion with two or moresealing surfaces and one or more storage chambers. Such syringe device,know as a disposable type, is adapted for the storage, transfer, andmixing of prepackaged ingredients. The forward chamber contains a drymaterial, and a flowable or liquid material, carried in a chamber in themovable plunger, is introduced into the dry the chamber to be mixed. I

Although the prior art shows these various devices for storing, mixing,and dispensing the mixed materials, these devices do not provide meansfor mixing and dispensing materials wherein one or more of theingredients are in an isolated state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device formixing and dispensing adhesive and/or sealants, and, more particularly,to a unit which, in effect, breaks up one of the materials for mixingwith another material and then dispenses the mixture in the desiredamounts. The assembly includes a cylindrical container, an end cap and anozzle cap on the container, a mixing head, and a charging plunger formetering the flow of the materials into position for mixing. The plungerhas a plurality of spaced ports to control passage of the materialthrough like ports in one end of the container, the material passingthrough the ports being regulatedby rotation of one set of ports inrelation to the other. The mixing head is carried on a shaft extendingthrough the container and includes a handle on one end of the shaft forturning the mixing head. Additionally, the head is cone-shaped and has aroughened or knurled surface, and employs auger-type grooves to feed thematerial from the container onto the surface of the head. The nozzle capis of funnel-shaped construction which locks on one end of thecontainer, and which has an inner roughened or knurled surface,complementarily positioned, but of slightly different taper from that ofthe mixing head surface.

This particular construction provides for the storage, mixing, anddispensing of a two-part material system, one part of which is inhibitedor isolated from the other by reason of being enclosed in capsular orencapsulated form. The base material is generally selected as theingredient in the encapsulated state, and, as it is being fed into thenozzle cap portion of the device, the action of the roughened cap andhead surfaces ruptures and grinds this material into a state adaptablefor mixing with the catalyst material. A coil spring is wrapped aroundthe stem of the charging plunger between the plunger plate and thecylinder end cap to exert sufficient pressure to force the base materialcapsules and the other ingredient through the ports, into the augergrooves, and into the roughened surface of mixing head. The amount ofmixed material is more easily controlled by use. of the capsularproduct, and the user is free to mix only the desired proportions.

While the use of the base material in capsular form and the catalyticmaterial in a liquid or flowable state is the preferred method ofstoring these materials, the invention is also applicable in cases whereboth materials are encapsulated. In the liquid-capsular method, thematerials may be stored separately and then mixed in the dispenser whenready for use, or the capsules may be stored by suspension in the liquidprior to use and the desired amount then placed in the cylinder. In thecapsule-capsule method, if both capsular materials are storedseparately, the desired amounts of each may be thoroughly mixed in aseparate container and the mixture of capsules placed into the cylinder,or the separate ingredients could be placed into the cylinder andthoroughly mixed therein prior to the grinding action, which thenruptures the capsules and mixes the materials for use. In the case of aseparate container with a mixture of the capsules, such container mayassume the form of a cartridge readily insertable into the cylinder,whereby the plunger forces the mixture through the cylinder ports andonto the grinding surface of the head.

In view of the above discussion, the principal object of the presentinvention is to provide a mixing and dispensing device which includescomplementary surfaces for preparing an isolated-form material into astate for mixing with another material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device capableof rupturing the isolated material and simultaneously mixing thischanged-state material with another material.

An additional object of the the present invention is to provide a devicehaving selective control means for metering and for mixing the desiredamount of isolated and nonisolated materials.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a mixinghead and a nozzle cap for a dispenser, the head and the cap havingroughened surfaces for rupturing encapsulated material and for mixingthis material with a second material.

Additional advantages and features of the present invention will becomeclearly understood from a reading of the following description takentogether with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a disassembled view of the component parts of the mixing anddispensing device;

FIG. 2, on the sheet with FIGS. 3, 4, and 8, is an enlarged sectionalview of the assembled dispensing device, showing the plunger thereof inposition in the cylinder, and also showing the knurled surfaces of themixing head and the nozzle cap;

FIG. 3, on the sheet with FIGS. 2, 4, and 8, is an end view of theplunger showing the metering ports in the closed position;

FIG. 4, on the sheet with FIGS. 2, 3, and 8, is a sectional view takenon the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the mixing head portion of the dispensingdevice showing the knurled surface thereon, the view being taken on theline 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of a modification showing acartridge-type refill unit, containing intermixed encapsulatedmaterials, for placing within the cylinder;

' FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing thedispensing device with the cartridge unit of FIG. 6 installed within thecylinder; and

FIG. 8 is a modified form of the nozzle tip for the dispenser unit.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the dispenser unit includesa cylinder 10 open at one end thereof for reception ofa piston orplunger 12 and the dispensing ingredients or like material 13, theplunger having connected thereto a ho]- low stem 14 of a length greaterthan that of the cylinder, and the stem having a knurled portion 15 atits free end. The other end of the cylinder 10 has a closed wall portion16 with a bore 18 therethrough for receiving a shaft 20, the shaftextending slidingly through the hollow stem 14 and having a handle 21attached at one end thereof for turning said shaft. An end cap 22 havinga bore 23 sufficiently large for receiving the stem 14 is suitablyformed for placement on the open end of the cylinder 10 to contain thematerial 13 placed therein. The cylinder 10 includes four lugs 24equally spaced on the exterior surface of its open end for mating withrecesses 25 in the end cap 22 and for securing the cap in lockingfashion when engaged therewithin. Additionally, grips in the form oflugs26 are formed on the periphery ofthe end cap 22 for the purpose ofaiding in twisting action when the cap is being locked and unlocked.

The wall portion 16 of the cylinder 10 has a series of circularlyaligned and equally spaced holes or ports 27 therein, as best shown inFIG. 5, the ports being positioned to cooperate with companion ports inthe plunger 12. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the construction of the plunger,generally designated as' 12, which includes a disc 28 secured to andintegral with one end of the stem 14. A plate 29, consisting of twohalves 3t) and 31 held together by pins 32, captures the disc 28 whileallowing it to rotate with the stem 14. The disc 28 has holes or ports33 therethrough, and the plate 29 has holes or ports 34 on the samecircular line as those ofthe disc.

As seen in FIG. 4, the plate 29 has a lip portion 35 cooperable with areduced-diameter portion 36 ofthe disc 28 to retain the disc in positionbut allow the disc to rotate in relation to the lip portion and theplate. The lip portion 35 has two cu touts 37 and 38 (FIG. 3), whichserve as stops for a pair oflugs 39 and 40 on the disc. In this respect,the rotation of the disc 28, by reason ofturning the stem 14 in relationto the plate 29, is limited for the purpose of either aligning theports33 with the ports 34 in an open position of the plunger ormisaligning the ports to a closed position thereof. It is throughalignment of these respective ports in relation to each other that thematerial is metered into the cylinder space beyond the plunger 12 andonto the mixing head. The plate 29 also has, on its periphery, a pair ofnibs 41 and 42, which move along guideways 43 and 44 (see FIG. 2) ontheinterior diameter of the cylinder 10. The nibs are slidable along theguideways as the plunger is reciprocably moved in the cylinder, but thenibs prevent rotation of the plate 29 in relation to the disc. In thisway, the plate is angularly fixed in position within the cylinder. Aspring 45 is placed on the stem 14 to urge the plunger 12 along thecylinder 10, the spring being captured between the plunger and the endcap 22.

Referring to FIG. 3, the cutout 37 is bounded by surfaces 46 and 47, andthe cutout 38 is bounded by surfaces 48 and 49,

which surfaces act as limits of rotation for the lugs 39 and 40. Thedisc 28 is shown in its counterclockwise position, the lug 39 engagingthe surface 46 and the lug 40 engaging the surface 48, wherein the ports33 and 34 are not aligned, and therefore blocks flow of any materialfrom the space nearest the end cap 22 (or the rear end of the cylinder)to the space in front ofthe plunger. When the stem 14 is turnedclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 3, the disc 28 likewise turns clockwise,and its ports 33 are then aligned with ports 34 in the plate 29 to allowflow of material 13 into the space ahead of the plunger (see FIG, 2).

The shaft 20 has a mixing head-S0, shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, fixed tothe end distal the handle 21, the head presenting a flat surface 51against the cylinder end wall portion 16 when the device is assembled.The circumferential portion of the mixing head 50 has an augerarrangement 52 formed thereon to move material, coming through the ports27 from the space adjacent the surface 51, to a sloping head surface 53.The head surface 53 is roughened or knurled to provide a grindingsurface for material passing from the cylinder 10 to the dispensingnozzle cap 54. The nozzle cap 54 likewise has a roughened or knurledsurface 55 (see also FIG. 8), mating or cooperating with the surface 53for the purpose of grinding and mixing the material being meteredthrough the ports from the cylinder 10. The head 50 has a centraldispensing guide 56 secured thereto and extending into the nozzle 57 ofthe cap 54. This guide may further mix the materials and direct themixture evenly through the nozzle.

FIG. 6 shows a cartridge-type refill unit 60, which is formed to slidein to the cylinder 10 ahead of the plunger 12, the cartridge containingmaterials for being dispensed from one end thereof by reason of movementof the plunger, through the ports 27 in the cylinder end wall portion16, along the auger 52 grooves, and onto the roughened surfaces 53, 55to be mixed for dispensing. The refill unit 60, ofcourse, conforms inshape with the interior of the cylinder, the guideways 43 and 44 (FIG.2) accommodating the nibs on the unit. The material 13 is containedwithin the cartridge by a frangible cover 61 at each end thereof, theremoval of which cover 61 exposes a central tube 62. As shown in FIG. 7,the tube 62 slides over the shaft 20, and the stem 14 of the plunger 12slides over the tube 62. In this respect, the showing of FIG. 7 callsfor a smaller-diameter plunger 12 to fit inside the cylinder 10, and fora larger-diameter plunger stem 14 to slide over the tube 62.

FIG. 8 shows a modification in the nozzle portion of the dispensingdevice, which is removable from the cap 54. In place ofthe nozzle 57(FIGS. 1 and 2)v being an integral part of the cap 54, the cap isconstructed with an opening 65 in its end for insertion of the removablenozzle 66. The nozzle 66 may, of course, be made ofa material ofthethrow-away type.

In the operation of the dispenser, the end cap 22 is removed from thecylinder 10 by being turned counterclockwise as viewed from the handleend of the shaft 20. As mentioned above, the cap includes recesses 25mating with lugs 24 on the exterior of the cylinder end for securing thetwo parts, and the cap has grips 26 on its circumference to facilitatecap on and off" by a simple twisting action. The other end of thecylinder has similar lugs 70 matingwith recesses 71 in the nozzle cap54. The cap 54, of course, also has grips 72 on its circumference tofacilitate the twisting action for assembly or disassembly of the nozzlecap and the cylinder.

In the preferred embodiment, the base material, in a capsular orencapsulated form, is suspended in a catalytic material in flowable orliquid form, so that a quantity of the ingredients 13 is premixed andready to be placed into the dispenser. The plunger 12 is inserted intothe cylinder 10, with the disc 28 and the plate 29 in the closedposition, with their ports 33, 34 misaligned, whereafter the'desiredamount of the mixture 13 is placed within the cylinder, the spring 45 isplaced over the stem 14, and the end cap 22 is secured. When it isdesired to use a given quantity of adhesive or sealant, the stem 14 ishand-turned counterclockwise (by use of the knurled portion 15) to alignthe ports 34 in the plate 29 with the ports 33 in the rotatable disc 28,so that the material 13 can move into the space ahead or in front of theplunger. The plunger 12 is then pulled in the direction of the handle21, and the material is caused to flow through the ports 34 and 33 intothe space adjacent the mixing head 50 at the front of the cylinder. Withthe desired amount of material moved into this space (this beingaccomplished by withdrawing the plunger 12 to a suitable marking orgraduation on the transparent cylinder wall, as seen in HO. 1), the stem14 is rotated clockwise to close the ports 33, 34 in the plunger. Thespring 45 exerts a pressure on the plunger 12 to force the material 13through the cylinder end wall ports 27 and into the auger grooves52.,The handle 21 is then turned to rotate the mixing head 50, whereuponthe material is augered onto the surface 53 of the head, and the surfaceof the head and the companion surface 55 of the nozzle crush thecapsules or free the isolated material to join with the other ingredientto be dispensed through the nozzle 57.

Ofcourse, if it is desired to use only a small amount of adhesive orsealant, the plunger 12 can be removed and the material placed adjacentthe wall portion 16, the cylinder graduations being used to measure thedesired amount. The inserted plunger then forces the material throughthe ports 27 and onto the mixing head.

In the case of two encapsulated ingredients placed in the cylinder, theports in the plate 29 and the disc 28 may beused to thoroughly mix theingredients by manual reciprocation of the plunger 12 in the cylinder.The mixed ingredients are then moved via the ports 27 in the cylinderend wall portion 16 and along the auger to the grinding surfaces, to becrushed for subsequent dispensing through the nozzle.

When a cartridge of encapsulated material is available and desired to beused, the plunger 12 is removed from the cylinder 10, the one end of thecartridge 60 is removed by tearing off the frangible cover 61, and, withthe dispenser held in the nozzle-upward position, the open end of thecartridge is placed within the cylinder. The dispenser is then turned sothat the nozzle is pointed downwardly, and the other end cover of thecartridge is removed. The plunger is then installed withthe ports 33 and34 in the closed position, whereby the spring 45 forces the material 13through the cylinder ports 27 and onto the surface of the head 50, wherethe material is crushed and mixed prior to being dispensed through thenozzle.

As shown in the drawings, the dispenser makeup is of a plastic type, andthe only metallic part used in the construction of the dispenser is thespring 45. A butadiene-styrene composition may be used for thepermanent-type device, whereas polyethylene material may be used for thethrowaway parts.

It is thus seen that herein shown and described is an adhesive andsealant dispensing device which accomplishes all the objects andfeatures of the invention. While specific modifications of the preferredembodiment are disclosed, variationson these may, of course, occur tothose skilled in the art, so it is contemplated that all such variationsare within the scope of the invention.

1 claim:

I. An adhesive and sealant dispenser for use with multiingredientsystems, at least one ingredient being in an isolated state, saiddispenser including a cylindrical container having an end portion withmetering means therein, piston means slidable within the container andhaving metering means rotatably cooperative with the first-men tionedmetering means, the rotation of the second-mentioned metering meansproviding either for containing the ingredients within the container orfor the exiting thereof,

grinding means adjacent the container end portion adapta ble forreceiving the ingredients from the metering means and for changing thecharacteristics of said one ingredient to mix with another ingredient,and

nozzle means connected with said container for receiving the mixture andfor dispensing it.

2. A dispenser in accordance ,with claim I wherein said piston meansincludes juxtaposed ported elements, one being rotatable in relation tothe other, for metering the ingredients from the container. 3. Adispenser in accordance with claim 1 wherein said piston means isslidably biased to exert pressure in exiting the ingredients from thecontainer.

4. A dispenser in accordance with claim 1 wherein said grinding meansincludes a cone-shaped head portion having auger-type grooves adjacentthereto for propelling the ingredients toward the nozzle means, and aroughened surface on the head portion for changing the characteristicsof said one ingredient to mix with another ingredient. v

5. A dispenser in accordance with claim 4 wherein said nozzle meansincludes a roughened surface cooperative with said cone-shaped headsurface for grinding and for mixing said ingredients.

6, In a device containing two ingredients in different states of matter,means for mixing and dispensing the ingredients including a cylindricalcontainer having ports at one end thereof, an Y end cap fitted on theother end of the container, a

plunger slidable in the container, said plunger having metering meanstherein cooperative with the container ports for passage of theingredients, a

mixing head disposed adjacent the one end of the container and havingmeans for receiving the ingredients from the container, said head havinga shaft portion supported from said container ends and extending throughthe container, and a nozzle cap connected to said cylinder for receivingand dispensing the ingredients, said mixing head and said nozzle caphaving complementary roughened surfaces for simultaneously changing thestate of one of the ingredients and mixing the changed-state ingredientwith the other ingredient as said shaft portion is rotated. 7. A devicein accordance with claim 6 including a stem on said plunger and a springabout said stem for biasing the plunger in one direction within thecontainer.

8. A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said metering meansincludes a ported plate and a ported disc rotatable in relation to theplate and cooperable with the ports at said one end of the container forcontrolling ingredient flow to the mixing head. I

9. A storage and mixing dispenser for use with two-part materialadhesive or sealant systems, one part of which is isolated from theother, said dispenser including a cylindrical container having a portedend thereon, an

end cap lockable on the container opposite the ported end,

ported plunger element freely slidable within the container and having astem projecting through the end cap for rotation of the element tocontrol passage of the material from the container, a

mixing head adjacent the container ported end, said head having a shaftextending through the container ported end and the end cap, a

nozzle element lockable on the ported end of said container, and

grinding means on said mixing head and on said nozzle element forpreparing the one isolated part of the system for mixing with the otherpart as the shaft is rotated, said nozzle element being positioned forreceiving the mixture and for subsequent dispensing thereof.

10. A dispenser in accordance with claim 9 wherein said grinding meansincludes roughened surfaces on said mixing head and on said nozzleelement cooperable for rupturing the one isolated part and for mixingthe materials.

11. A dispenser in accordance with claim 9 including a spring about saidplunger element stem for exerting pressure on said element to force thematerial through the container ports.

12. A mixing and dispensing unit for multiingredient adhesive or sealantmaterials, said unit including a cylinder having an end portion withspaced ports and a bore therein, a

plunger slidable in the cylinder and having a hollow stem extendingthrough one end ofthe cylinder, a

spring encircling said stem for exerting pressure on said plunger in thedirection of the cylinder end portion, a

mixing head proximal the cylinder end portion and having a shaftextending through said bore and plunger hollow stem, said head having agrinding surface thereon, and auger-type grooves around the periphery ofthe head for receiving said materials from said cylinder and forpropelling the materials onto the grinding surface in response torotation ofthe shaft, a

handle on said shaft for rotating said head, a

nozzle cap connected to said cylinder and covering the mixing head, saidcap having a grinding surface complementary with that of said mixinghead for forming a mixture of the materials by reason of rotation ofsaid handle under the influence of said spring forcing the materialsfrom said cylinder through said ports and onto the grinding surfaces,and a nozzle tip connected with said cap for directing the dispensing ofthe mixed materials.

13. A mixing and dispensing unit in accordance with claim 12 wherein oneof said materials is isolated from another material and the grindingsurfaces of the mixing head and the nozzle cap are adaptable forchanging the state of the isolated material for mixing with anothermaterial 14. A mixing and dispensing unit in accordance with claim 13wherein said isolated material is in capsular form and the grindingsurfaces of the head and the cap are adaptable for rupturing thecapsules for mixing with another material.

15. A mixing and dispensing unit in accordance with claim 12 whereineach material is in isolated form and the surfaces ofthe head and thecap are adaptable for grinding and for mixing the materials.

16. A mixing and dispensing unit in accordance with claim 15 including acartridge in said cylinder for containing said isolated materials priorto the crushing and mixing thereof.

17. A mixing and dispensing unit in accordance with claim 12 whereinsaid nozzle tip is removable from said nozzle cap.

